Tamping tool



Feb. 25, 1964 J. H. MCKENZIE 3,122,034

TAMPING TOOL Filed July 20, 1962 I 5 7 1| l2 8 e IO INVENTOR. MMMMMMMMMMMMM IE TTTTTT EY United States Patent 3,122,934 TAMPING TOOL James H. McKenzie, 1316 221st St, Torrance, Cahi. Filed July 20, 1962, Ser- No. 211,216 6 Claims. (1. 78-47) This invention provides a tool particularly adapted for use in sealing pipe joints.

Bell and spigot pipes generally are sealed at their connections by means of lead poured into the space at the joint between adjacent lengths of pipe. Thus in a typical pipe joint the end of one pipe fits within a bell formed at the end of the adjoining pipe. Oakum then is introduced into the joint, following which lead is cast into the rema ning space between the bell of the outer section of the oint and the periphery of the interior length of pipe. When the lead has solidified, it is necessary to tarnp it both inwardly against the surface of the male portion of the oint and outwardly against the inner wall of the flange. In the past this has been accomplished by two tools. One of the tools is designed such that it will tamp the lead outwardly, while the other tool is constructed for tamping the lead inwardly. Hence, the workmen first have tamped around the joint with one tool, and then selected the other for tamping around the joint to force the lead in the opposite direction.

According to the present invention the necessity for two tools is obviated through the provision of a single tool that can be used to tamp any sealing material in both directions. This is accomplished by means of an elongated shank having a relatively short bifurcated end. This end terminates in two legs that are inclined away from the shank and toward a projection of the axis of the unit. The distal ends of these legs are beveled such that one leg can be used in tamping the material outwardly, while the other can be employed for tamping the sealant inwardly against the periphery of the pipe. This construction permits the tool to be made with all the strength and rigidity characteristic of the individual tools previously used. Nevertheless, it avoids the requirement for purchasing and handling two tools for each joint. It also considerably simplifies the tamping of joints in confined areas because the workmen need no longer transfer tools in completing the job.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a calking tool enabling joints to be tamped with increased speed and convenience.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool permitting the complete tamping of a joint with the use of but a single tool.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dual purpose tarnping tool of great strength and rigidity.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a tamping tool of simple, low cost construction.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool of this invention used in tamping a joint,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3.

With reference to the drawing, the device of this invention includes an elongated shank 1, which may be hexagonal or of other cross section, connecting to a bifurcated end 2. This end section includes a pair of outwardly diverging legs 3 and 4 that are inclined axially away from the shank. Members 3 and 4 connect to in- "ice Wardly convergent sections 5 and 6. The latter elements terminate in beveled ends 7 and 8.

The end pieces 5 and 6 are formed of material curved in one plane so as to provide concave outer longitudinal surfaces 9 and 1!? extending axially inward from the ends 7 and 8. The inner walls 11 and 12 are of course convex. Hence the members 5 and 6 are of flat strip material bent in about the longitudinal axis so that the ends become transversely arcuate.

End portions 5 and 6 make a relatively flat angle with respect to the axis of the tool. The angle of inward inclination alpha amounts to approximately 14 in one particularly satisfactory embodiment. In that arrangement there is a spacing of approximately /4 inch between the ends 7 and 8 or" the two members 5 and 6.

Ends 7 and 8 are beveled rather than being cut square with respect to the legs 5 and 6. End wall 7 is inclined inwardly toward the shank 1 and the axis of the tool. On the other hand, the end surface 8 is inclined outwardly in the longitudinal direction of the shank, and transversely with respect to the shank extending toward a projection of the tool axis. The angles of these two end surfaces may be approximately the same. In one version of the invention, the angle beta of the end 8 with respect to the outer surface 10 of the end section 6 is in the neighborhood of 60.

This construction permits the tool of this invention to perform the complete calking of a joint such as that shown in FIG. 1. This figure illustrates a pipe joint that includes a male pipe end 13 fitting within the bell end 14 of an adjoining length of pipe 15. There is a space between the inner wall of the bell portion 14 and the outer periphery of the pipe end 13, into which is cast a quantity of lea 16 or other sealing material. The tool of this invention may be utilized to tamp the lead both inwardly against pipe 13 and outwardly against the flange 14.

In accomplishing this, first one end section of the tool is used and then the other. As seen in FIG. l, the end portion 5 is being utilized to tarnp the lead inwardly toward the pipe 13 as the upper end 17 of the shank 1 is struck. The end section 6 may assume approximately a position of alignment with the axes of the pipe sections. This causes the shank 1 to incline outwardly away from the pipe so that it may be gripped conveniently and engaged by a hammer. The spacing between the ends 7 and 8 of the tool means that the unused end will fall outside of the bell 14 and will not interfere with the tamping Operation. The concavity on the surfaces 9 and It permits the tool to fit closely against the exterior of the pipe section 1'2. The device is used simply by first tamping completely around the joint with one of the end sections engaging the lead. Then the tool is reversed and the joint is tamped with the other end section contacting the sealing material. Therefore, in the illustration of FIG. 1 the inner portion of the lead at the joint will be tamped inwardly by the end section 6 and its beveled edge 8. Following this the tool is rotated and the beveled end 7 of element 5 used to tamp the outer portions of the lead outwardly.

Thus it is unnecessary to carry two tools and by simple rotation of the one tool of this invention, the entire joint can be sealed. The use of an elongated shank together with a relatively short bifurcated end permits the device to have great strength and rigidity. There will be no annoying vibration as the tool is struck. The inclination given legs 3 and 4 as well as to end members 5 and 6 allows the tamping forces to be transmitted generally longitudinally through the components of the tool. The joint can be tamped as well with the dual purpose tool of this invention as it could be tamped with a conventional tool, yet the job is accomplished much faster and with greater convenience. Nevertheless, the construction is quite simple and the tools can be manufactured at a low cost.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tamping tool comprising an elongated shank adapted to be struck on one end,

anda bifurcated member at the opposite end of said shank,

said bifurcated member including distal end portions inclined away from said shank in the longitudinal direction of said shank and transversely of said shank inwardly toward a pro jection of the axis of said shank, said end portions having beveled outer edges, one

of said bevels being inclined longitudinally outwardly relative to said shank, and transversely of said shank extendinginwardly toward said projection of said axis, and the other of said bevels being inclined inwardly toward said projection of said axis. 2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which each of said end portions is arcuate transversely and has a con- 7 cave outer surface;

3. A tamping tool comprising an elongated shank, and a bifurcated member at one end of said shank,

said bifurcated member including a duality of outwardly inclined first legs, and a duality of second legs carried one by either of said first legs, said second legs being inclined away from said shank and toward a projection of the axis of said shank, said last mentioned duality of legs having beveled end walls,

one of said end walls being inclined outwardly.

away from said shank in the longitudinallydirection of said shank, and toward said projection of said axis in the transverse direction ofjsaid shank,

and the other of said end walls being inclined inwardly toward said shank and said projection.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 in which each of said duality of second legs is formed from an elongated strip having a concave outer surface.

5. A device as recited in claim 3 in which each of said end walls is arcuate in form being convex adjacent said projection of said axis and concave remote from said axis.

6. A tamping tool comprising 7 an elongated shank one end of which is adapted to be struck,

and a bifurcated member at the opposite end of said shank, a

said bifurcated member including a duality of first members diverging outwardly away from said shank, a

and a duality of second members, one being carried by the outer end of either of said first mem- V bers,

said second members converging inwardly away from said shank and terminating in spaced end walls,

one of said end walls being inclined outwardly away from said shank in the longitudinal direction of said shank, and toward a projection of the axis of said shank in the transverse direction of said shank,

and the other of said end walls being inclined inwardly toward said shank and said projection,

said second members being formed of strip material arcuate transversely to define concave outer longitudinalwalls and convex inner longitudinal walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A TAMPING TOOL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SHANK ADAPTED TO BE STRUCK ON ONE END, AND A BIFURCATED MEMBER AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SHANK, SAID BIFURCATED MEMBER INCLUDING DISTAL END PORTIONS INCLINED AWAY FROM SAID SHANK IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID SHANK AND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SHANK INWARDLY TOWARD A PROJECTION OF THE AXIS OF SAID SHANK, SAID END PORTIONS HAVING BEVELED OUTER EDGES, ONE OF SAID BEVELS BEING INCLINED LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID SHANK, AND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SHANK EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARD SAID PROJECTION OF SAID AXIS, AND THE OTHER OF SAID BEVELS BEING INCLINED INWARDLY TOWARD SAID PROJECTION OF SAID AXIS. 